"I worked hard. I think I've done a good job," Nixon said. "I think that they know that I want to make a difference."

Nixon said he intends to continue working to improve the council's relationship with Mayor Kim Bracey's administration. The city's legislative branch need not be a "rubberstamp," but everyone needs to "row in the same direction to get things done," Nixon said.

"I want to get council on the same page," he said. "Then we can get things accomplished."

Bracey said she's pleased residents backed the incumbent Democrats.

"They see folks that are willing to work together," she said. "We have our differences. We don't always agree. But we're big enough to sit down at the table and work through it."

Nelson said she initially struggled with the decision to seek re-election because, as a frequent dissenting vote on council, she doubted the impact she was making.